Wednesday, April 20, 2016

My Microdermabrasion Experience!

When Essential Beauty emailed me offering a treatment of my choice recently, I amazingly thought long and hard about it (I know, what?). I'd never had a salon treatment before and actually hate people touching me, so it was way out of my comfort zone! After assessing the pros and cons I realized I would be an idiot to pass up the opportunity, plus I thought you guys may be interested in the Microdermabrasion* process too, given that this is predominantly a beauty blog. But first, let's talk customer service!

Customer ServiceWe all know how important this is; poor customer service can be a real deal-breaker, putting you off a business entirely. I experienced wonderful customer service from the get-go, even before Essential Beauty knew I'd be reviewing my experience. I made two phone calls to the Marion, SA store prior to my booking to ask a few questions that weren't covered by the online FAQ. Both times the staff member was friendly and helpful, reassuring me and allaying my fears. When I arrived to my appointment I spoke with Barbara, the store owner, and she was so lovely, chatty and relatable. Carol, the Store Manager and Therapist who performed my Microdermabrasion was an absolute delight. I feel so lucky I got her, as she guided me through the process expertly, was full of useful information and was so friendly. I'm definitely asking for Carol if I go back for more treatments in the future!

Benefits of MicrodermabrasionThere were an array of treatments to choose from, but I picked Microdermabrasion because it seemed the most suitable to my skin and for what I wanted to achieve.

'Microdermabrasion is an advanced skin care innovation that delivers an exclusive blend of organic ingredients including lignin and cellulose to gently and non-invasively polish the skin. This polishing removes dry, damaged surface skin and stimulates collagen production and blood flow. The procedure gives the skin an overall fresh, healthy looking glow in 40 minutes. It is a non-surgical, effective “lunch hour” procedure.'

There are so many skin problems Microdermabrasion can improve, including fine lines and wrinkles, skin pigmentation, sun damage and age spots, blackheads and whiteheads, enlarged pores, acne scars and dull or congested skin. I saw this as a great all-rounder treatment that addresses multiple issues simultaneously, plus anything that can improve my fine lines and congested skin in the one session is very appealing to me.

My ExperienceI was led to a dimly-lit room with a treatment bed and gentle, relaxing rainforest music playing, and was left to don a hairnet and lay down. All of this was a welcome oasis and quite a departure from the stresses of day to day life! I even forgot that I hate laying down in public. I was glad I didn't have to remove any clothes, because there's another thing that makes me uncomfortable. Yes, I have a lot of foibles! My Therapist placed eyepads over my eyes then removed my makeup (from under the eyes down, as that's where I wanted the treatment), using asap Gentle Cleansing Gel. I found this really enjoyable, because my face and neck got a little massage at the same time! All the products used were asap brand, because Essential Beauty stock this range throughout their stores. Being a beauty lover, I appreciated the chance to be introduced to a skincare brand I hadn't tried before, and after the treatment I was kindly given an array of asap samples to try for myself at home.Carol checked my comfort level many times throughout the treatment and explained every step of the process to me, putting me at complete ease. I did stress a bit when the lights went on but that's needed so the Therapist can see what they are doing with the tool. I then had the Diamond Peel treatment, which is a type of Microdermabrasion where the skin is exfoliated using actual diamond chips to vacuum the skin away. The top layer of skin and the dead skin cells are removed to rejuvenate the skin and the skin's collagen levels and elasticity are increased as the epidermal cell structure is restored. This, basically, was the nitty-gritty of the procedure; the machine was somewhat loud and the process was not painful or uncomfortable, but certainly wasn't as relaxing as the massagey bit! I felt no discomfort as the diamond-tipped wand was run over my face, thankfully.Next, my face was wiped, asap Soothing Gel was applied and I was again left to relax for five minutes with my rainforest buddies and the lights down. Yas! This was then removed and asap Ultimate Hydration was applied. I also remember Carol saying she had applied a product with a tint (which would have helped to even out my skintone and make me appear less scary, lol) but I can't recall the exact product.

ResultsI experienced no redness immediately after the procedure, which was a huge plus! I was concerned I'd look like a beetroot with not a scrap of makeup to conceal this, but I needn't have worried. My skin had a healthy glow to it and felt super soft. Like baby's bum soft. It was explained to me that I may break out in the days following, and of course I did. I am prone to breakouts at the best of times, so I knew it would happen to me. This cleared up pretty quickly, though, and I was left with smooth, firmer-looking skin. My pores were definitely less noticeable as were my fine lines. My complexion overall, was more glowy than usual and my skin looked healthy. I'm impressed with the results and with any future Microdermabrasions, I'd be keen to include under my eyes, as I'd love to address the fine lines residing there. I wasn't sure if you could treat this area, but I checked and you can!

Location, Location, Location!As mentioned earlier, I chose to have this treatment at the Marion store, located within the Westfield shopping complex. This was perfect for me as I only live 15 minutes away. As you can imagine, I know my local Westfield pretty damn well, so I knew exactly where Essential Beauty was located; conveniently right next to an exit to the car park! This is a major benefit if you don't like being seen in public without makeup or if you're worried your face will be red afterwards. I very much appreciated being able to leave the store, turn the corner and be out of sight within ten seconds, lol.

In Summary.....Although I didn't experience redness afterwards, it's important to remember the sunscreen and best if you can skip makeup or just wear light mineral foundation for the next few days, so I'd suggest getting it done late on a Friday afternoon or early Saturday morning so you have the weekend to let your skin breathe. I really enjoyed my Essential Beauty experience, from start to finish, and I honestly can't fault it. I couldn't have asked for a better Therapist in Carol. She's so friendly, down to earth and reassuring, whilst still being completely professional. I felt completely at ease in her hands. For my first ever salon experience, I think it went remarkably well. I actually regret not treating myself to a salon experience earlier, and am considering returning for microdermabrasions once or twice a year, now that I know exactly what's involved and that I enjoy the experience and love the results!

Disclaimer: *This treatment was provided in exchange for a review, however views expressed are my unbiased, honest opinion. Links in this post are for information purposes and are not affiliate links. Please see the Disclosure page for further information.

I joined up for 12 months at a local media spa as a VIP last year, it came with several treatments which forced me to actually make the time. I let the paid membership slip this year and have been dropping hints to hubby that it might actually make a nice Mother's day treat for me.

Sounds like a nice experience, I have always wondered what it would feel like! I feel you on the red face thing, it's why I hardly ever get my eyebrows waxed because I have to time it so it's the last thing I do at the shops and usually I'm too busy running around or I have my daughter with me!

It's nearly a month since the treatment now, and my skin is slowly returning to its old state, but at the same time, it's kind of staying slightly improved if that makes sense! I want to get another treatment in a few months!